Dean, College of Biological Science

University of Guelph is a research-intensive, top-ranked comprehensive university, with nearly 27,000 undergraduate and over 3,000 graduate students across 85 different majors. Guelph is recognized for its academic reputation, for being student-centered, and for its strong sense of community. Guelph’s seven colleges conduct leading edge teaching and research in the physical and life sciences, arts, business, social sciences, and agricultural and veterinary sciences. Guelph is a unique place with transformative research and teaching and a distinctive campus culture.  The University applies its knowledge and discoveries to shape understanding and effect lasting positive change. The University is deeply committed to mobilizing research into action and has a robust track record of successful commercialization, particularly in the food and agriculture space. Discoveries at the University of Guelph are fueling job creation, supporting sustainable food production, protecting the environment, improving the quality of life, and empowering those who are frequently marginalized. Within the University, research is infused into teaching, creating experiential educational opportunities that enrich the student experience and provide transferable skills that make graduates more competitive in the job market.

The College of Biological Science (CBS) is a research-intensive and learner-centered globally recognized academic faculty with a mission to expand the understanding of life, from DNA to cells to complex ecosystems. With a focus on experiential learning and research productivity, instructors within the College of Biological Science are at the forefront of teaching innovation, working to incorporate and develop innovative ways to engage students and communicate science. The College includes approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 400 graduate students making important discoveries about health, nutrition, ecology, evolution, genetics, neuroscience, physiology and more. The College offers 13 undergraduate and 11 graduate degree programs across three departments and one institute: Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, Integrative Biology, and Molecular and Cellular Biology, and the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario.

Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the Dean of the College of Biological Science (CBS) will be responsible for ensuring that the continued renewal and implementation of the College’s strategic plan aligns with and supports the objectives and aspirations of the College and the strategic mission and directives of the University. The Dean will provide ideas and insight and will leverage the College’s culture of innovation and collaboration to continue to pursue opportunities that build on the strengths and momentum of the College. The Dean will lead the evolution and growth of the College through new initiatives and opportunities while supporting the unique culture and sense of community within CBS. Fundamental to this role will be the recruitment of high-quality, full and part-time faculty members and staff that enhance the diversity and capacity of the College, as well as budget management and provision of academic support services. The Dean will work collaboratively with decanal colleagues to promote interdisciplinary research and teaching across the University. Working closely with the Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the Dean will share responsibility for the undergraduate science program. In conjunction with the Vice-President (Research), the Dean will provide leadership of the development of impactful and innovative research and collaborative partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders. The Dean will foster a supportive and collegial culture that invites diverse ideas and perspectives, and reflects a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigeneity.

As the ideal candidate, you possess a doctoral degree and are eligible for appointment as a full professor in the College of Biological Science. You are a strategic and collegial leader with a demonstrated ability to lead strategic initiatives and organizational change. You have excellent communication and management skills and a proven record of leadership in administration involving both financial and human resource management, as well as research and education. You possess an exemplary record of outstanding research achievement and scholarship as well as an impressive track record of teaching and student advocacy. You are adept at building relationships and promoting partnerships between the College and the private sector, government, other universities, and the wider community. You bring experience managing change in a competitive and complex environment and managing competing interests in a consultative and effective manner.

If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Amorell Saunders N’Daw or Beth McLennan at 1-866-822-6022. Information on how to apply can be found at: https://kbrs.sharefile.com/d-sae4917065e6466c8. Completed applications can be submitted online at www.kbrs.ca/Career/13573. 

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University recognizes that applicants may have had obligations outside of work that have negatively impacted their record of achievements (e.g., parental, elder care, and/or medical). You are not required to disclose these obligations in the hiring process. If you choose to do so, the University will ensure that these obligations do not negatively impact the assessment of your qualifications for the position.

The University of Guelph resides on the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron people and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and we offer our respect to our Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Métis neighbours as we strive to strengthen our relationships with them.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. Acknowledging the University’s diverse population and ensuring that every member of an inclusive campus is a valued contributor is a foundational pillar of success. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

The University of Guelph and KBRS will provide support in the recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation in order to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact accommodate@kbrs.ca or communicate your needs to the recruitment professional named in the job description.